JP2016012100A - Decoloring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a decoloring device capable of controlling a decoloring position not to transmit the heat to a sheet passing through the decoloring position.SOLUTION: A heating member 131A moves in a forward and backward between a decoloring position where a sheet under transportation is brought into contact therewith to heat and decolor an image on the sheet and a retreat position where the sheet under transportation is not brought into contact therewith. A heat transfer obstruction member 152A is interposed between the sheet and the heating member to obstruct the heat transmission from the heating member to the sheet. A drive mechanism 150 drives the heat transfer obstruction member to move forward and backward between the obstruction position where the sheet is obstructed to come into contact with the heating member and an allowable position where the sheet is allowed to move to a decoloring position. The control section control the heat transfer obstruction member to position at the obstruction position with the drive mechanism while the heating member is positioned at the retreat position.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an erasing apparatus capable of erasing an image formed by an erasable colorant.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a erasing apparatus capable of erasing an image formed by a erasable colorant. The sheet whose color has been erased by the erasing apparatus can be reused, and consumption of the sheet can be suppressed. The erasing apparatus is mainly used in offices and the like, and the erasing apparatus has been downsized in order to use the office space effectively.

  In the erasing apparatus, the sheet fed from the sheet feeding unit passes through the image reading unit, and the image formed on the sheet is read by the image reading unit. If it is determined that an image is not formed on the sheet based on the image read by the image reading unit, the sheet is conveyed to a reuse paper discharge tray. On the other hand, when it is determined that an image is formed on the sheet, the sheet is conveyed toward the decoloring portion. Here, the sheet conveyance path in the decoloring apparatus is divided into a sheet conveyance path toward the sheet discharge tray and a sheet conveyance path toward the decoloring section at a branch point located downstream of the image reading unit in the sheet conveyance direction.

  However, due to the miniaturization of the erasing apparatus, the distance from the image reading unit to the branch point may be smaller than the length of the conveyed sheet. In that case, the end on the downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction of the sheet reaches the branch point before the image reading of the entire conveyed sheet is completed. If an image is formed on the sheet, it is necessary to perform a decoloring process. Therefore, the sheet that has reached the branch point needs to be conveyed to the sheet conveyance path toward the decoloring unit.

  However, for example, when a confidential document is described on the sheet conveyed to the erasing unit, the confidential document is erased in the erasing unit. Here, when the colorant capable of decoloring is heated to a predetermined temperature or higher, the color of the colorant becomes colorless and transparent. However, even if the colorant becomes transparent, the transparent colorant remains fixed on the sheet. Therefore, confidential matters are described on the sheet by the transparent colorant. The problem here is that a confidential document that has become transparent can be visually observed depending on how light is reflected.

  If the confidential document is described by the transparent colorant on the discharged sheet, the user may not be able to recognize the confidential document. In that case, if a sheet on which confidential matters are described is transferred to a third party, the confidential information may be leaked to the third party. Therefore, it is ideal that the sheet on which the confidential document is written is not subjected to the decoloring process.

  However, as described above, when the distance from the image reading unit to the branch point is short, a situation in which a sheet on which a confidential document is described is conveyed to the decoloring unit can be considered. In this case, the sheet on which the confidential document is written is subjected to a decoloring process, and there is a possibility that the confidentiality is leaked to a third party.

  The present embodiment solves the above-described problem, and even when a sheet on which a confidential document or the like is written is conveyed toward the erasing unit, the sheet can be discharged without erasing the sheet.

The decoloring apparatus includes a sheet conveying unit, a heating member, a contact / separation mechanism, a heat transfer inhibiting member, a driving mechanism, and a control unit. The sheet conveyance unit conveys the sheet within a conveyance guide extending in a predetermined conveyance direction. The heating member heats and erases the color of the image formed on the sheet with a colorant that can be erased by heat. The contact / separation mechanism causes the heating member to enter the conveyance guide through an opening formed in the conveyance guide, and abuts against the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyance unit to heat and erase the color of the image on the sheet. The erasing position to be moved is retracted from the conveyance guide through the opening and moved to be retractable so as not to come into contact with the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying unit. The heat transfer inhibiting member interferes with heat transfer from the heating member to the sheet by being interposed between the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying unit and the heating member. The driving mechanism closes at least a part of the opening of the conveyance guide for the heat transfer inhibiting member, and inhibits the contact of the sheet with the heating member and the movement of the heating member to the decoloring position by the contact / separation mechanism. It moves so as to be able to advance and retreat between the allowable positions. When the heating member is positioned at the retracted position by the contact / separation mechanism, the control unit positions the heat transfer inhibiting member at the inhibited position by the drive mechanism.

It is the schematic of the decoloring apparatus which is 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the state which is performing the decoloring process about the decoloring part in a decoloring apparatus. It is a figure which shows the state which is conveying the sheet | seat, without performing a decoloring process about the decoloring part in a decoloring apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the decoloring apparatus which is 1st Embodiment. In the decoloring apparatus which is 1st Embodiment, it is a flowchart which shows the flow of an opening-and-closing operation | movement to a heat-transfer inhibition member. In the decoloring apparatus which is 2nd Embodiment, it is a figure which shows the state in which the heat-transfer inhibition member is open and the decoloring process is made. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a sheet is conveyed without performing a decoloring process in the decoloring apparatus according to the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows the decoloring part in the decoloring apparatus which is 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the heat-transfer inhibition member in the decoloring apparatus which is 2nd Embodiment. It is the schematic of the erasing apparatus which is 3rd Embodiment.

  Each embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a decoloring apparatus according to the first embodiment. The erasing part 13 is also shown in a simplified manner.

  The erasing apparatus 1 includes a paper feeding unit 11, an image reading unit 12, a erasing unit 13, a first sheet conveying unit 14, a second sheet conveying unit 15, a third sheet conveying unit 16, a first discharge tray 17, 2 having a paper discharge tray 18, a first separator 19, and a second separator 20.

  The sheet feeding unit 11 feeds the sheets stacked on the sheet feeding tray to the first sheet conveying unit 14. The first sheet conveying unit 14 conveys the fed sheet to the first paper discharge tray 17 via the image reading unit 12.

  The image reading unit 12 reads an image formed on the sheet conveyed by the first sheet conveying unit 14. The image read by the image reading unit 12 is stored in the storage unit 22 (see FIG. 5). The control unit 21 described later determines whether the image read by the image reading unit 12 is, for example, a confidential document, based on the image data stored in the storage unit 22. Details of the process for determining the confidential document will be described later.

  The first flapper 19 guides the sheet conveyed through the first sheet conveyance unit 14 to the second sheet conveyance unit 15. The second sheet conveying unit 15 conveys the sheet guided by the first flapper 19 to the decoloring unit 13, and then joins the sheet to the first sheet conveying unit 14.

  When it is determined that the confidential document is not described on the conveyed sheet, the decoloring unit 13 decolorizes the image formed on the sheet by heating the sheet. On the other hand, when it is determined that a confidential document is described on the conveyed sheet, the decoloring unit 13 performs a decoloring process by heating the sheet.

  The sheet that has passed through the erasing unit 13 passes through the image reading unit 12 again. The image reading unit 12 can determine whether or not an image formed on the sheet has been decolored to such an extent that the image formed on the sheet can be reused. When it is determined that the sheet that has been subjected to the decoloring process is reusable, the sheet is discharged to the first discharge unit, and it is determined that the sheet that has been subjected to the decoloring process cannot be reused The sheet is discharged to the second paper discharge unit 18.

  The second flapper 20 guides the sheet conveyed by the first sheet conveyance unit 14 to the first sheet discharge unit 17 or the third sheet conveyance unit 16. The sheet conveyed by the third sheet conveyance unit 16 is discharged to the second paper discharge unit 18.

Here, the 1st sheet conveyance part 14, the 2nd sheet conveyance part 15, and the 3rd sheet conveyance part 16 are comprised from a sheet conveyance path and a conveyance roller. The sheet located in the sheet conveyance path is conveyed in the sheet conveyance path by the conveyance roller.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state where the heat transfer inhibiting member is open and the color erasing process is performed in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state where the heat transfer inhibiting member is closed and the decoloring process is avoided in the first embodiment.

  The decoloring unit 13 includes a decoloring unit 13A and a decoloring unit 13B, and the decoloring unit 13A and the decoloring unit 13B are arranged to face each other with the second sheet conveying unit 15 interposed therebetween. The decoloring section 13A (13B) includes a heating member 131A (131B), a support body 132A (132B), and a first driving section 133A.

  The heating member 131A is rotatably supported by the support body 132A and is rotated by a driving unit (not shown). Further, the heat source Ha is arranged inside the heating member 131A, and the heat generated by the heat source Ha is transmitted to the heating member 131A, whereby the heating member 131A is heated.

  Next, an operation in which the heating member 131A moves back and forth will be described. First, when the first drive unit 133A is driven, the pinion 134 attached to the first drive unit 133A rotates. A rack 135A is attached to the support 132A, and the support 132A moves forward or backward to the decoloring position or the retracted position when the rotational force of the pinion 134A is transmitted to the rack 135A. Here, the decoloring position is a position of the heating member 131A when the heating member 131A is brought into contact with the conveyed sheet and the color of the image on the sheet is decolored by heating. The retreat position refers to a position of the heating member 131A such that the heating member 131A is retracted from the sheet conveyance path and the heating member 131A does not contact the conveyed sheet. In the present embodiment, the heating member 131A moves linearly between the decoloring position and the retracted position.

  The operation of opening and closing the heat transfer inhibiting member 152A will be described. The drive mechanism 150 that opens and closes the heat transfer inhibition member 152A moves the heat transfer inhibition member 152A between the allowable position and the inhibition position. Here, the allowable position is a position of the heat transfer inhibiting member 152A that allows the heating member 131A to move to the decoloring position. The inhibition position is a position of the heat transfer inhibition member 152A that prevents the heat from the heating member 131A from being transferred to the conveyed sheet by preventing the heating member 131A from moving to the decoloring position. is there.

  The drive mechanism 150A includes a guide 151A, a heat transfer inhibition member 152A, and a second drive unit 153A. Here, for the heat transfer inhibiting member 152A, for example, a material having a heat insulating effect such as rigid urethane foam is used. When the drive unit 153A is driven, the pinion 155A attached to the second drive unit 153A rotates. A rack 154A is attached to the heat transfer inhibiting member 152A. When the rotational force of the pinion 155A is transmitted to the rack 154A, the driving force of the second drive unit 153A is transmitted to the heat transfer inhibiting member 152A, and the heat transfer inhibiting member 152A is Open and close.

  The operation of heating the sheet on which the heat transfer inhibiting member 152A is opened and the heating member 131A is conveyed will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, when the decoloring unit 13 performs the decoloring process, the heat transfer inhibiting member 152A is opened. As described above, the operation of opening the heat transfer inhibiting member 152A is performed by driving the second drive unit 153A. The heat transfer inhibiting member 152A moves to the allowable position, but when the heat transfer inhibiting member 152A is located at the allowable position, the opening 156A provided in the guide 151A is in an open state. Here, the opening 156A is formed in such a size that the heating member 131A can enter the sheet conveyance path. That is, when the heat transfer inhibiting member 152A is located at the allowable position, the heating member 131A can enter the sheet conveying path.

  After the heat transfer inhibiting member 152A moves to the allowable position, the heating member 131A moves to the decoloring position. As described above, the heating member 131A moves to the decoloring position by driving the first driving unit 133A. When the first driving unit 133A is driven, the heating member 133A heats the sheet conveyed through the opening 156A. The conveyed sheet is heated while being pressed by the heating member 131A and the heating member 131B, whereby the image formed on the sheet is erased.

  The operation of the erasing unit 13B is the same as that of the erasing unit 13A. When the third driving unit 133B is driven, the heating member 131B is moved to the decoloring position, and when the fourth driving unit 153B is driven, the heat transfer inhibiting member 152B is moved to the allowable position.

  An operation for avoiding that the heat transfer inhibiting member 152A is closed and the sheet is heated by the heating member 131A will be described with reference to FIG. When the decoloring process is avoided, the heating member 131A moves to the retracted position, and then the heat transfer inhibiting member 152A moves to the inhibiting position. When the heat transfer inhibition member 152A is located at the inhibition position, the opening 156A formed in the guide 151A is closed. When the heat transfer inhibiting member 152A separates the heating member 131A from the conveyed sheet, it is possible to prevent heat from the heating member 131A from being transferred to the sheet. The heat transfer inhibiting member 152B is similar to the operation of the heat transfer inhibiting member 152A.

  Here, in the case where the heat transfer inhibiting member 152A prevents heat transfer to the sheet, the heat transfer inhibiting member 152A does not need to completely close the opening 156A. The heat transfer inhibiting member 152A may prevent heat transfer to the sheet by closing at least a part of the opening 156A.

  The guide 151A is preferably formed of a material having a certain degree of heat insulation. This is because if the heat insulating action of the guide 151A is low, heat may be transferred to the sheet through the guide 151A even when the heat transfer inhibiting member 152A is closed.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the decoloring apparatus according to the first embodiment.

  In the erasing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, the heat source H, the paper feeding unit 11, the image reading unit 12, the first sheet conveying unit 14, the second sheet conveying unit 15, and the third sheet conveying unit 16. The first separator 19, the second separator 20, the control unit 21, the storage unit 22, the heat source H, the drive unit 134, and the drive unit 135 are connected to each other via the communication bus 100. The heat source H includes a heat source Ha and a heat source Hb. The drive unit 134 includes a first drive unit 134A and a third drive unit 134B, and the drive unit 135 includes a second drive unit 135A and a fourth drive unit 135B.

  The control unit 21 includes a CPU 211 and a memory 212. The CPU 211 controls the processing operation of the erasing apparatus 1 by executing a computer program stored in the memory 212. The memory 212 is composed of a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), etc., and a computer program used for controlling the color erasing apparatus 1 or a computer program Various data generated sometimes are stored. The computer program read to the memory 212 is read and executed by the control unit 21. The storage unit 22 stores the image data read by the image reading unit 12 and the like.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of operation of the decoloring apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the length of a fed sheet in the sheet conveyance direction is longer than the distance from the image reading position G to the branch point S (see FIG. 1). The image reading position G is a position where the image reading device 12 reads an image formed on a sheet. Further, the branch point S refers to a position where the first sheet transport unit 14 and the second sheet transport unit 15 branch. When the distance from the image reading position G to the branch point S is shorter than the length of the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction, the downstream end of the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction is connected to the branch point before the image reading process for the entire conveyed sheet is completed. Will reach. Here, in order to read an image formed on the entire conveyed sheet, the sheet needs to enter the downstream side of the first sheet conveying unit in the sheet conveying direction or the second sheet conveying unit. If an image is formed on the sheet, it is necessary to perform a decoloring process. Therefore, the sheet that has reached the branch point needs to be conveyed to the sheet conveyance path toward the decoloring unit. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the length of the conveyed sheet is longer than the distance from the image reading position G to the branch point S, the sheet is guided to the second sheet conveying unit and passes through the decoloring unit 13. become.

  In Act 1, the control unit 21 controls the sheet feeding unit 11, so that the sheet feeding unit 11 feeds the sheets stacked on the sheet feeding tray to the first sheet conveying unit 14. The fed sheet is conveyed toward the image reading unit 12 by the sheet conveying unit 14.

  In Act 2, the control unit 21 controls the image reading unit 12, whereby the image reading unit 12 reads an image formed on the conveyed sheet. The image data read by the image reading unit 12 is stored in the storage unit 22 (see FIG. 4).

  In Act 3, the control unit 21 controls the first sheet conveyance unit 14 and the second sheet conveyance unit 15, so that the first sheet conveyance unit 14 and the second sheet conveyance unit 15 are read by the image reading unit 12. The sheet is conveyed to the erasing unit 13.

  In Act 4, if the image read by the image reading unit 12 is not a confidential document, the process proceeds to Act 5 (Act 4, Yes). On the other hand, if the image read by the image reading unit 12 is a confidential document, the process proceeds to Act 6 (Act 4, No).

  Whether or not the image formed on the sheet is a confidential document is determined by the control unit 21 executing a program stored in the memory 212. When the control unit 21 determines from the image data stored in the storage unit 22 that the document formed on the sheet includes, for example, characters such as “confidential”, the confidential document is described on the sheet. It is determined that The method for determining whether or not the document described on the sheet is a confidential document is not limited to the above-described method.

  In Act 5, the control unit 21 controls the heat source H (first heat source Ha, second heat source Hb) and drive unit (first drive unit 134A, second drive unit 135A, third drive unit 134B, fourth drive unit 135B). The erasing unit 13 performs erasing processing on the conveyed sheet. Specifically, the driving unit moves the heat transfer inhibition members 152A and 152B to the allowable position, and the heating members 131A and 131B move to the decoloring position, whereby the decoloring process is executed. The heating units 131A and 131B moved to the erasing position are heated while pressing the conveyed sheet, thereby erasing the image formed on the sheet. As described above, the heat sources of the heat generated by the heating members 131A and 131B are the heat sources Ha and Hb. The operations of the erasing unit 13 and the drive mechanisms 150A and 150B are as described above.

  In Act 6, when the control unit 21 controls the drive unit, the drive unit retracts the heating members 131A and 131B to the retracted position, and moves the heat transfer inhibiting members 152A and 152B to the inhibited position. The operations of the erasing unit 13 and the driving mechanisms 150A and 150B are as described above.

  In Act 7, the control unit 21 controls the first sheet conveyance unit 14, the second sheet conveyance unit 15, and the third sheet conveyance unit 16, whereby the sheet that has passed through the decoloring unit 13 is discharged to the discharge tray 17 or the discharge tray. The paper is discharged to 18.

(Second Embodiment)
In the second embodiment, the structure of the decoloring part is different from that of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the heating member is supported by a rotatable rotation support, and when the sheet is not erased, the rotation support rotates to retract the heating member to the retreat position. Further, a conveyance roller is attached to the rotation support, and the conveyance roller comes into contact with the conveyed sheet instead of setting the heating member to the retracted position. That is, it is possible to switch between the execution and the cancellation of the decoloring process by switching the heating member and the transport roller by the rotation operation of the rotation support.

  In the second embodiment, portions other than the decoloring unit 50 and the drive mechanism 60 are the same as those in the first embodiment. Portions having the same functions as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the decoloring unit performs a decoloring process in the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the decoloring unit conveys the sheet while avoiding the sheet decoloring. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the rotation mechanism. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the heat transfer inhibiting member.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the second embodiment, the erasing unit 50 includes a heating member 51, a first transport roller 52, a rotation support 53, a pinion 54, a belt 55, a pinion 56, and a drive. Part 57.

  A heating member 51 and a transport roller 52 are attached to the rotary support 53. The heating member 51 is rotatably supported by the rotation support 53 and is rotated by a driving unit (not shown). The rotating shaft of the heating member 51 is parallel to the rotating shaft of the rotating support. Further, a heat source Hc is disposed inside the heating member 51, and the heat generated by the heat source Hc is conducted to the heating member 51, whereby the heating member 51 is heated.

  The conveyance roller 52 has a plurality of rollers. The plurality of transport rollers 52 are arranged side by side in the rotational axis direction of the rotation support 53 in the rotation support 53. The transport roller 52 rotates about the same rotation axis, and a plurality of the conveyance rollers 52 are arranged on the rotation support 53 with a predetermined interval in the rotation axis direction. The rotation axis of the transport roller 52 is parallel to the rotation axis of the rotation support 53. The conveyance roller 53 is also the same as the heating member 51, is rotatably supported by the rotation support 51, and is rotated by a roller (not shown).

  The rotation axis of the rotation support 53 is orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction and is parallel to the conveyed sheet surface.

  An operation of rotating the rotation support 53 will be described. The rotation support 53 is rotated by the belt 55 and the drive unit 57. First, when the rotation support body 53 rotates, the drive part 57 drives. A pinion 56 is attached to the drive unit 57, and when the drive unit 57 rotates, the pinion 56 also rotates. The pinion 56 is engaged with the belt 55, and the rotational force of the pinion 56 is transmitted to the belt 55. A pinion 54 is also attached to the rotary support 53, and the pinion 54 and the belt 55 are engaged with each other. When the rotational force of the belt 55 is transmitted to the pinion 54, the rotation support 53 rotates. That is, when the driving force of the drive unit 57 is transmitted to the rotary support 53 via the belt 55, the rotary support 53 rotates. As the rotary support 53 rotates, the heating member moves between the decoloring position and the retracted position. The description of the erasing position and the retracting position is as described above.

  Next, the operation for opening and closing the heat transfer inhibiting member 61 will be described. The heat transfer inhibiting member 61 moves so as to be parallel to the guide 65 that guides the conveyed sheet. An opening 65 a is formed in the guide 65, and the heat transfer inhibiting member 61 performs an opening / closing operation so as to close or open the opening 65. The opening / closing operation of the heat transfer inhibiting member 61 is performed by the drive unit 63. First, when the drive unit 63 is driven, the pinion 64 attached to the drive unit 63 rotates. The heat transfer inhibiting member 61 is provided with a rack 62, and the pinion 64 and the rack 62 are engaged with each other. The rotational force of the pinion 64 is transmitted to the rack 62, and the heat transfer inhibiting member 61 opens and closes. Here, the heat transfer inhibition member 61 moves between the allowable position and the inhibition position. The explanation of the allowable position and the inhibition position is as described above.

  An operation in which the erasing unit 50 performs the erasing process on the conveyed sheet will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, when the color erasing process is performed, the heat transfer inhibiting member 61 is located at the position where the opening 65 is opened, and the heating member 51 is located at the color erasing position. First, when the drive part 63 drives, the heat-transfer inhibition member 61 moves to an allowable position. When the heat transfer inhibiting member is located at the allowable position, the opening 65a formed in the guide 65 is opened, so that the heating member 51 can be moved to the decoloring position. After the heat transfer inhibiting member 61 is opened, the driving unit 57 is driven to rotate the rotating member 53, and the heating member 51 is moved to the decoloring position. The sheet conveyed through the second sheet conveyance unit 15 is heated while being pressed by the heating member 51 and the conveyance roller 67, thereby performing a decoloring process. Here, the conveyance roller 67 is disposed at a position facing the heating member 51 located at the decoloring position.

  Next, the operation of the erasing unit 50 when a sheet is conveyed without executing the erasing process will be described. In this case, the heat transfer inhibiting member 61 is located at the inhibiting position, and the heating member 51 is located at the retracted position. As described above, when the drive unit 57 is driven, the rotation support 53 is rotated, and the heating member 51 is retracted to the retracted position. Here, the transport roller 52 is attached to the rotation support 53, and the transport roller 52 is positioned at a position facing the transport roller 67 when the heating member 51 is positioned at the retracted position. The conveyance roller 52 moves to a position where the conveyance roller 52 and the conveyance roller 67 can convey the sheet. That is, the transport roller 52 moves to a position where it comes into contact with the transport roller 67.

  An operation of closing the heat transfer inhibiting member 61 will be described. As described above, the heat transfer inhibition member 61 moves to the inhibition position when the drive unit 63 is driven. Here, when the heat transfer inhibition member 61 moves to the inhibition position, it seems as if the heat transfer inhibition member 61 and the transport roller 52 come into contact with each other, but in this embodiment, the heat transfer inhibition member 61 is comb teeth. Therefore, the heat transfer inhibiting member 61 and the transport roller 52 are not in contact with each other.

  The shape of the heat transfer inhibiting member 61 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, in this embodiment, the heat transfer inhibiting member 61 is formed in a comb-teeth shape. Comb teeth 61a are formed in the heat transfer inhibiting member 61, and a predetermined interval is provided between the comb teeth 61a. Further, the comb tooth portion 61a is formed so as to extend in the sheet conveying direction in the heat transfer inhibiting member 61. Since the conveyance roller 52 can protrude from between the comb teeth portions 61a, the conveyance roller 52 can convey the sheet even if the heat transfer inhibition member 61 is located at the inhibition position.

In the present embodiment, the heat source Hc, the drive unit 57, and the drive unit 63 are controlled by the control unit 21.
(Third embodiment)
The third embodiment differs from the first and second embodiments in the position and configuration of the image reading unit and the position of the decoloring unit.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a decoloring apparatus according to the third embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, portions other than the image reading units 312A and 312B and the decoloring unit 313 are the same as those in the first embodiment. Portions having the same functions as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  In the erasing apparatus 3 according to the third embodiment, the image reading unit 312 includes two image reading units 312A and 312B. The image reading units 312A and 312B are arranged along the first sheet conveying unit 14, but the positions of the image reading units 312A and 312B are different in the sheet conveying direction of the first sheet conveying unit 14. In the third embodiment, the image reading unit 312A is located upstream of the first sheet conveying unit 14 in the sheet conveying direction with respect to the image reading unit 312B.

  In the third embodiment, the decoloring unit 313 is located in the first sheet conveying unit 14 on the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction from the image reading units 312A and 312B. In FIG. 10, the decoloring device 313 has the same configuration as the decoloring unit 13 in the first embodiment, but is not necessarily limited thereto. As the erasing device 313, for example, the erasing unit 50 in the second embodiment can also be employed.

  The decoloring apparatus 3 according to the third embodiment has a compact structure in order to reduce the space in the office of the decoloring apparatus 3. Therefore, the space inside the erasing apparatus 3 is also reduced, and the arrangement of components inside the erasing apparatus 3 is also limited. In the third embodiment, since the image reading units 312A and 312B and the decoloring unit 313 are linearly arranged on the first sheet conveying unit 14 which is the same conveying unit, the decoloring device 3 is made compact. Is possible.

  However, in such an apparatus configuration, a sheet that passes through the image reading units 312A and 312B always passes through the decoloring unit 313. When a long time has not elapsed since the previous decoloring process, the decoloring part 313 remains heated, and the sheet that has passed through the decoloring part 313 may be decolored.

  Accordingly, by adopting the decoloring unit 13 in the first embodiment and the decoloring unit 50 in the second embodiment as the decoloring unit 313, even when the sheet has to pass through the decoloring unit 313, the sheet When it is not desired to erase the color, it is possible to prevent the sheet from being erased.

  In the first embodiment, when it is desired to avoid the decoloring process for the sheet conveyed toward the decoloring unit 13, the heating member 131 is retreated to the retreat position, and the heat transfer inhibition member 152 is moved to the inhibition position. It is possible to prevent the erased process from being performed on the conveyed sheet. Further, when it is not necessary to avoid the color erasing process for the conveyed sheet, the color erasing process may be executed by moving the heat transfer inhibiting member 152 to the allowable position and moving the heating member 131 to the color erasing position. it can.

  In 1st Embodiment, it can avoid that a heat | fever is added to the conveyed sheet because the heat-transfer inhibition member 152 is located in the inhibition position. Even when the heating member 131 is retracted to the retracted position, it is conceivable that heat is applied to the sheet from the heating member 131 through the air. However, since the sheet conveyed with the heating member 131 is shielded by the heat transfer inhibiting member 152, it is possible to more reliably prevent heat from being applied to the sheet.

  In the first embodiment, the heating member 131 is not necessarily a roller-type heating member. The heating member may be, for example, a plate-shaped ceramic heater.

  In the first embodiment, the decoloring process is performed by heating the conveyed sheet while being pressed by the two heating members 131A and 131B. However, the number of the heating members is not necessarily two. For example, the conveyed sheet may be heated while being pressed by a heating member and a conveyance roller.

  In the second embodiment, when it is desired to avoid the erasing process for the sheet conveyed toward the erasing unit 50, the rotation support 53 rotates to move the heating member 51 from the erasing position to the retracted position. Thereby, it can prevent that a heat | fever is added to the conveyed sheet | seat. Further, since the heating member 51 moves to the retracted position and the heat transfer inhibiting member 61 moves to the inhibiting position, it is possible to prevent the heat generated by the heating member 51 from being transmitted to the conveyed sheet.

  In the second embodiment, the rotary support 53 is formed in a roll shape, and the vicinity of the heating member 51 on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary support 53 is formed in a gentle curve. Further, the rotation support 53 is disposed at a position where no gap is generated between the rotation support 53 and the guide 65 as much as possible. Therefore, the vicinity of the heating member 51 on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary support 53 serves as a guide, and the conveyed sheet can be prevented from being clogged. That is, the rotation support 53 serves as a guide, thereby preventing sheet jamming (so-called jam).

  In the second embodiment, the heat transfer inhibition member 61 is formed in a comb-teeth shape, but the shape of the heat transfer inhibition member 61 is not necessarily limited to this. The heat transfer inhibiting member 61 may have a hole through which the conveyance roller 52 can protrude. The heat transfer inhibiting member 61 is formed in such a shape that the conveyance roller 52 can protrude into the sheet conveyance path and the sheet can be conveyed by the conveyance roller 52 even when the heat transfer inhibition member 61 is located at the inhibition position. That's fine.

  In the first and second embodiments, the case where the document described on the sheet in the image reading unit 12 is a confidential matter is described, but the confidential matter need not necessarily be described on the sheet. In the first and second embodiments, it is only necessary to prevent the sheet from being decolored when it is necessary to pass the decoloring part when it is not desired to perform the decoloring process.

  The present invention can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof. Therefore, the above-described embodiment is merely an example in all respects and should not be interpreted in a limited manner. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the scope of claims, and is not restricted by the text of the specification. Further, all modifications, various improvements, alternatives and modifications belonging to the equivalent scope of the claims are all within the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Decoloring apparatus, 13 Decoloring part, Ha heat source, 21 Control part, 131A Heating member,
132A support, 150 drive mechanism, 152A heat transfer inhibiting member,
Hc heat source, 51 heating member, 52 transport roller, 53 rotating support, 61 heat transfer inhibiting member

Claims (5)

A sheet conveying section that conveys a sheet within a conveyance guide extending in a predetermined conveyance direction;
A heating member that heats and erases the color of the image formed on the sheet with a colorant that can be erased by heat;
The heating member is caused to enter the conveyance guide through an opening formed in the conveyance guide, and is brought into contact with a sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyance unit to heat and erase the color of the image on the sheet. A contact / separation mechanism that moves between the erasing position and a retracted position that is retracted from the transport guide through the opening and is not contacted with the sheet transported by the sheet transport unit;
A heat transfer inhibiting member that inhibits heat transfer from the heating member to the sheet by interposing between the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying unit and the heating member;
The heat transfer inhibiting member blocks at least a part of the opening of the conveyance guide and inhibits the contact of the sheet with the heating member, and the decoloring position of the heating member by the contact / separation mechanism A drive mechanism that moves forward and backward to and from an allowable position that allows movement to
A controller that positions the heat transfer inhibiting member at the inhibition position by the drive mechanism when the heating member is located at the retracted position by the contact / separation mechanism;
An erasing apparatus comprising: The erasing apparatus according to claim 1,
The contact / separation mechanism moves the heating member linearly between the decoloring position and the retreat position. The erasing apparatus according to claim 1,
The contact / separation mechanism includes a rotation support body that supports the heating member, and the rotation support body rotates about a rotation axis that is orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction and parallel to the sheet surface. The member is movably moved between the decoloring position and the retracted position. In the erasing apparatus according to claim 3,
The heating member is a heating roller that conveys a sheet while heating the sheet at the decoloring position,
The contact / separation mechanism has the heating roller and the sheet conveying roller on the rotating support, and the rotating support rotates to move the heating roller from the sheet conveying path to the retracted position. A conveyance roller can enter the sheet conveyance path,
The heat transfer inhibiting member has a shape that does not interfere with the conveying roller when the conveying roller enters the sheet conveying path when the heat inhibiting member is located at the inhibition position,
The controller is configured to convey the sheet by causing the heating roller to enter the sheet conveyance path by the contact / separation mechanism when the heat transfer inhibition member is located at the inhibition position. In the erasing apparatus according to claim 4,
A plurality of the transport rollers are arranged side by side in the direction of the rotation axis of the rotary support,
The heat transfer inhibiting member is formed in a comb-teeth shape in which comb teeth extend in the sheet conveyance direction. When the heat transfer inhibition member is located at the inhibition position, a plurality of the conveyance rollers enter the sheet conveyance path from between the comb teeth. It is characterized by protruding.

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